Detachable upholstery



June 30, 1925.

J. LEDWINKA DETACHABLE UPHOLSTERY Filed June 11. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet lMness.'

June 30, 1925.

J. LEDWIN KA DETACHABLE UPHOLSTERY Filed June 11. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patenteitl J une Y' 30,A 19.25.

UNITED STATES massa PATENT oEFlcE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PEN'SYDVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 EDWARD .GBUDD, 'MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OI? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA., A.

CORPORATION- OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' DETACHABLE UPHOLSTERY.

.-'Applie'ation led June 11, 1920. Serial No. 388,147.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEDWINKA,

residing at Philadelphia, County of Phila-- delphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements inDetachable Upholstery, 4of which I declare the following to be a full,clear, 4and .exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in detachable upholstery and, moreparticularly, to the' construction of detachable upholstery units andtheir application to motor vehicles.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a detachableupholstery unit which may be removably and detachably mounted on theseat back portion of an automobile and firmly maintained in such'position, which-unit is so constructed as to be sightly in appearanceand to permitof the ready application and attachment ofthe upholsterymaterial to the frame of the.

unit in such a manner that it will not pull lor tear loose easil)T fromits points of 95 attachment to the frame.

- accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificationin which:-l

Fig. I. is a fragmentary, perspectlve View f of. a motor vehicle,showing a front seat having mounted thereon an upholstery unitconstructed in accordance with my invention, said unit being partlybroken away to'show the manner in which it is mounted.,

Fig. II. is a transverse, sectional View through the seat back'portionof the automobile body and upholstery unit mounted thereon. y l

Fig. III. is a perspective vie-w of the upholstery unit removed from theseatback and with the upholstery partly broken away to show the frame onwhich it .is mounted. Fig. IV. is an enlarged, detail, sectional view,corresponding to the upper part of rear seat portion and a modified formof upholstery unit applied thereto.

Fig. VII. is a transverse, sectional View through the seat backportionand the upholstery unit shown in Fig. VI.

- Fig. VIII. is a perspective view of the detachableupholstery unitshown in Fig. VIL, with the upholstery partly broken away to vshow theframe.

.Fig IX. is a detail, enlarged, sectional view, corresponding to theupper part of Fig. VII. y

Fig X. is a detail, enlarged, sectional view, corresponding to the lowerpart of Fig. VII.

' In the drawings, similar reference numerals referto similar partsthroughout the several views.

In general, I accomplish the objects of my invention by providing adetachable upholstery unit including a frame having a lmarginal channel,in which a tacking strip is mounted, to which frame the upholstery isapplied, the margins of the upholstery being tacked to the tackingstrip, and the channel being so arrangedv with reference to the framethat the upholstery is drawn over a side of the channel extending atright angles to the tacking surface of the tacking strip. The upholsteryunit so constructed is applied'to the seat back portion of the motorvehicle `body in such a way that the upper portion of the frame ismaintained seated against a horizontal shoulder at the upper s 'for boththe seat back and sldes. Referring to the numbered parts of the drawing,I have shown a motor` vehicle body, 10, provided with a front seat-backportion,-11, curved longitudinallv in the usualmanner .to

provide the backv and sides for the seats. The upper edge of thisseat-back portionis turned laterally to provide the inwardly extendinghorizontal flange, 12. An angle strip is applied to said flange,comprising the flange, 13, which is welded, or otherwise secured to theflange, 12,.and the vertically extending flange, 14. The usual seatpanor seat-support, 15, is provided. The frame of the upholstery unitcomprises a channel, 16, at the lower edge of the frame, which channel,at its ends, is bent forwardly and then extends vertically to form theside portions of the upholstery frame, as shown in Fig. III. Thischannel, 16, presents or opens rearwardly, that is, away from the faceof the frame to which the upholstery is to be applied. The channel, 16,-carries therein fibrous material, 17, of any suitable nature, to form atacking strip and receive the tacks by which the upholstery7 is appliechA bar, 18, vis secured at its ends to the upper ends of' the verticalportions of the channel,

16, and said bar is curved to correspond to the longitudinal curvatureof the seat back portion asshown in Fig. III. A sheet ofretic'ulated-metal, 19, such 'as wire screen or expanded metal mesh, isfastened at its edges to the base of the channel, 16, and to the bar,18, said sheet of reticulated metal, 19, forming the body of the frameand being formed, to the curvature of the scat-back portion, as shown inFig. III.

A plurality of hook-shaped straps, 20, are welded at intervals to thebar, 18, and extend upwardly therefrom, each ofA said straps having areversely curved portion, 21, and a laterally extending end, 22. Achannel, 23, is secured to the ends, 22. of the traps, 20, said channelbeing curved to conform to the longitudinal curvature of the seat backportion and having its base welded tothe ends, 22. So arranged, itconstitutes the marginal strength element of the frame.

upholstery is drawn over this strip, as willl be described hereinafter.

Angle brackets, 26, are fastened to the base of the channel, 16, at thelower portion of the frame, by means of which brackets the frame isattached to the seat support,

v15,' as shown in Fig. I. A sheet of fabric, 27,

may cover the metal sheet, 19, of the frame and the upholstery isapplied to the frame as shown in Figs. I and II. The upholsterycomprises the back sheet, 28, and the sheet of upholstery material, 29,such as leather or artificial leather, suitable filling material, 30,being interposed between the back sheet and the sheet of upholsterymaterial, in the usual manner. If desired, springs, 31, may beinterposed between the body of the frame and the backsheet, 28.A

The edge portions of the upholstery, that is,'of the back sheet, 28, andthe sheet of upholstery material, 29, are drawn over the outer side ofthe channel, 16, and then fastened to the tacking strip, 17, by thctacks, 32. At the upper portion of the frame, the upholstery material isdrawn over the curved strip, 25, and the outer side of the channel, 23,and then tacked to the tacking strip, 24, by means of tacks, 32. Thisunit is applied to the seat-back portion by seating the channel, 23, onthe horizontal flange, 12, behind the vertical flange, 14. The lowerportion of the frame is then Afastened to the seat support, 15, by meansof the angle brackets, 26

It will be seen that the upper margins of the upholstery material areinterposed be- -tween channel, 23, and the flange, 12, and

form a sort of washer between these metal parts, thus tending toyieldingly seat the upper portion of the frame and to vprevent noises.The hook-shaped straps, 20, and the upholstery overhang the flange, 14,the up holstery being drawn around the outer side of the channel, 23,and over strip, 25. This gives the 'upholstery a finished appearance, v

which conforms to the curvature of the upper portion of the frame, andit will be seen that, when the unit is mounted in place, the edges ofthe upholstery material are hidden. The springs, which are usually usedin such upholstery units, exert a Vtension on the upholstery material,which would tend todraw it loose from the fastening tacks, 32, if itwere not for the fact that the channel is so disposed that theupholstery material is drawn around one side of the channel andthe tacksare driven into a surface extending at right angles to said side. The-O, having a seat-back portion, 11, with a' laterally extendinghorizontal flange, 33', at

the upper edge thereof, to which a strip, 33,-

having a downwardly extending flange, 34, at its lforward edge, iswelded. The usual seat-pan or seat-support, 15, is provided. In thisembodiment of my invention, I provide three upholstery units, one forthe seateback and one for each of the side portions of the seat. I haveshown the seat-back portion in lll lll

detail, but the construction of the units for shown and described, aresusceptible of conthe side portions is identical, except for the shape.

The framecomprises a marginal channel, 35, to the base of which a sheetof reticulated metal, 37, such as metal screen or expanded metal mesh isfastened by welding or otherwise. The channel, 35, faces rearwardly,that is, away from fthe surface to which the upholstery is applied, andthe channel carries fibrous material, such. as paste board or similarmaterial,'forming a tacking strip, 36. A sheet of fabric, 38, may beplaced infront of the sheet of metal, 37, and the upholstery comprising'the back sheet, 39, the illing, 40, and the sheet of upholsterymaterial, 41, such as leather or ar` tificial leather, is applied to thefront of the frame, with its marginal edges drawn over the outer side ofthe channel, 35, and tacked to the tacking strip, 36,'by the tacks, 43.If desired, springs, 42, may be interposedfbetween the sheet of metal,37, and the upholstery, in the usual manner.. The unit is applied to theseat back portion by inserting l.

the .upper edge beneath the flange,'33. The

downwardly extending flange, 34, engages inv front of the upper edge of.the upholstery. unit. and the unit is held in position by theangularbrackets, 26, which are Welded to .the base of the channel, 35,and secured in any suitable manner to the seat support, l5.

It will be seen that, in this embodiment,`

as well as in the embodiment shown in Figs. I. to V., the upholsteryunit has a marginal channel so located and positioned with reference tothe frame, that the margins of the upholstery material are drawn .overthe outer side ofithe channel, and then tacked ih, a tacking strip, theexposed surface of which extends at right. angles to the side of thechannel. This .results in a smoothly iinished appearance, in that all oftheedges of the'up'holsltery material are concealed, when in use, andthe pull of the springs, 42,

against the upholstery material is taken by the side of the channel andnot directly by the tacks, 42, so that the upholstery material will-notpull or Work loose readily from the tacking strip. Y Y

In Figs. I. to V., I have shown a single curved unit, fitting the seatback and side portions and, in Figs. VI. -to X. I have shown threeunits, one for the seat back and two for the sideV portions. It will beunderstood that either construction may be'made up either as asinglecurved unit or in one or more sections, as shown in FigS."VI. to X, forinstance, in Figs. I. to V., the upholstery might be applied in threesections after thev manner of Fig. VI, and such construction would stillbe within the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that the particular elnbodiments of my invention, which Ihave here siderable variation without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and, therefore, I

desire to claim the same broadly, as Well as tachable and removableupholstery unit, l

comprising a rearwardly-presenting channel having vertically extendingportions at the ends thereof, a bar connectingthe upper Aends of saidvertical portions, a sheet of reticulated metal secured-at its marginsto Said channel and said bar, a plurality of hook-shaped straps securedto said bar, a

downwardly-presenting channel fastened to the ends of said straps, atacking strip mounted -in each of said channels, upholstery applied tothe front of said sheet and having its edges secured to said tackingstrip, and

means for detachably mounting said unit on said seat back portion.

2The combination with an automobile body having aseat back portion and alongitudmally extending shoulder at the upper edge thereof, of adetachable and removable upholstery unit, comprising a frame and a barsecured at the upper edge thereof, a plurality of hook-shaped strapsfastened to said bar and extending rearwardly vfrom said frame, achannel secured to the free ends of'said straps, a tacking strip mountedin said channel, a curved longitudinally extending strip fastened to theupper portions of said straps, upholstery applied to said frame andhaving its upper portion drawn over oneside of said channel and saidlongitudinally extendin strip and secured to said tacking strip, anrglmeans for detachably mounting said frame on said seat back portion, withsaidchannel seated` on said shoulder.

3."I`he combination with an automobile ybodyhaving a seat back portion,of a detachable and removable Seat-back upholstery unit comprising aframe including a rearwardlyfacing marginal channel, and a downward-lly-facing channel extending t-helength of the upper edge of said framein the rear of the frame and conforming to the upper'edge of saidseat-back portion, atacking stripf lmounted in each channel, upholsteryapplied to said frame and having its edges secured ,to

'sheet of reticulated metal fastened at its los l edges to said channel,a downwardly-opention of a frame, including a rearwardlyopening channelat thesid'es and lower margin ofsaid frame', a horizontally extendingbar at the upper margin of said frame, a sheet',` of reticulated metalfastened at its margins to said channel and t'o said bar,'adownwardly-opening channel carried by said bar, a tacking strip mountedineach of said channels, and upholstery applied to said frame and havingits margins drawn over the outer sides of said channels and fastened tosaid tacking strips. l

6. A removable and detachable seat-back upholstery unit comprising aframe including a. rearwardly-opening marginal channel extending alongthe base and sides of the frame and a downwardly-opening channel carriedat the upper edge of said frame in the rear thereof, a taeking strip ineach channel, and upholstery applied to said frame and having itsmargins fastened to said tacking strips.

7. A metallic' upholstery supporting frame for removable and detachableupholstery comprising a main body of reticulated metal, hook shapedstraps connected with said body and reversely bent, and a, channel stripconstituting the border strength element of said frame secured to saidstraps and opening downwardly.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signa- 40 ture. t

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

